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Population geography

POPULATION GROWTH AND POLICY OPTIONS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

 With more than two surviving children per woman, every generation is  larger than the preceding one, and population continues to grow. The extent to  which high (but falling) fertility rates remain a driving force for population growthMany analysts find it difficult to understand why massive further growth will take  place despite declining fertility rates. First, the large decline since the 1960s still  leaves fertility about 50 percent above the two-child level needed to stabilize the  population.  varies by region. It is highest in Africa, with a current fertility rate of 5.3 births per.

 woman, and lowest in Asia and Latin America, where fertility has dropped to just  below 3 births per woman.

 To be effective, population policies should address all sources of continuing  growth, except declining mortality. Among the strategies to be considered are the  following.  High-quality family planning and reproductive health services should be  expanded. Unwanted pregnancies occur when women and men who want  to avoid pregnancy do not practice effective fertility regulation. Offering  individuals and couples appropriate services has been a priority of many  governments in the developing world. Despite considerable progress over  the last several decades, however, the coverage and quality of family  planning services remain less than satisfactory in many countries.

 Favorable conditions should be created for small families. Several social  and economic measures have substantial effects on desired family size.  (1) Increase educational attainment, especially among girls. As  economies become less agrarian, the availability of mass education  changes the value placed on large families and encourages parents  to invest in fewer but “higher-quality” children, capable of entering  the emerging labor markets. Higher levels of education are also  associated with the spread of nontraditional roles and values,  including less gender-restricted behaviors. Educated parents rely  less on children for income and old-age support. Educated women  want (and have) fewer children with higher survival rates, have  higher earnings, and are more able to invest in their children’s  nutrition and education.

 (2) Improve child health and survival. No developing country has had  a sustained fertility decline without first having experienced a  substantial decline in child mortality. A high child death rate  discourages investments in children’s health and education and  encourages high fertility because parents believe that excess births  are required to ensure that at least the desired number of children  will survive to adulthood.  ( 3) Invest in women and provide them with economic prospects and  social identities apart from motherhood. Improvements in the  economic, social, and legal status of girls and women are likely to  increase their bargaining power, giving them a stronger voice in  family reproductive and productive decisions. As women’s autonomy  increases, the dominance of husbands and other male household  members is reduced, as well as the societal preference for men.

 As women’s status improves, the value of children as insurance against adversity (for example, in old age) and as securers of women’s Social positions declines.

 Bruce j. and Bongaarts j. oct 1998,oxford publicition,V.53